PowerShot G15

PowerShot G15

Features & Controls

This incredible 5x optical zoom lens that Canon has built into the G15 has a 35mm equivalent of 28-140mm and it has a maximum aperture of f/1.8 (W) - 2.8 (T), providing you with outstanding low-light shooting capabilities. Canon has also thrown in its Intelligent IS system to track your subject and camera to give you the best optical image stabilization possible for your situation.

Assisting the lens is a DIGIC 5 image processor and 12.1-Megapixel High Sensitivity CMOS imaging sensor that completes Canon's HS system. These features combine to give you amazing performance from burst shooting as well as camera processes like Smart Auto and special/low-light shooting modes. It also helps to reduce noise and give you higher quality images.

Here you can see the pop-up flash, AF assist lamp and the front of the optical real image zoom viewinder. The flash will not pop up automatically, so unless you raise it, you do not have to worry about it firing in any shooting mode. The optical viewfinder zooms with the camera's lens, but it does not give you a very accurate view of your subject(s).

Along the top back of the camera you will see the optical view finder with dioptric adjustment and eye sensor, the playback button, hot shoe for an external flash and to the far left is a programmable shortcut button, which also acts as the direct print button in playback mode.

On top of the camera you have the pop-up flash and switch to the far left. On the right side is the mode dial that sits above the exposure compensation dial. To the right of those you will find the shutter release and zoom control, power button and the front control dial at the top.

Other than the optical viewfinder, you have the brilliant 3.0-inch, 922,000 dot LCD screen for composing and viewing your images. With approx. 100% coverage of the image area, it gives you a much better idea of what you will capture compared to the OVF. It has 5 levels of brightness so it can be adjusted to be easily seen in all lighting conditions.

Controls on the back: at the upper right is the dedicated video recording button, which allows you to record video in any shooting mode. Next is the AF Frame (image Delete in playback) and AE/FE lock button. The 4-way controller lets you navigate menus and select files during playback, the FUNC/SET button accepts menu selections. It also gives you access to the Function shortcut menu, which has many settings. In record mode you press "Up" to adjust the ISO setting, "Right" to toggle the flash mode, "Down" to change the Display options, and "Left" to enable Macro or Manual focus modes. Mounted around the 4-way controller is the Control dial, which allows you to quickly navigate the menu, set aperture and shutter speed values, use Program Shift, etc. At the bottom you will find the metering mode button and the MENU button, which calls up and dismisses the menu screens.

The I/O ports:

At the top is the Remote Terminal port, which accepts the optional Remote Switch RS60-E3, allowing you to release the shutter button without touching the camera.

Next we have a combination port that handles both the standard definition Audio/Video output as well as USB 2.0 (high-speed) connectivity to a computer for downloading files or Direct printing to any PictBridge compatible printer. The operation of this port is determined by which of the supplied cables you insert into it.

At the bottom you can see the HDMI output port, which when used with an optional HDMI cable, allows you to connect your G15 to a HDTV set (you can also use the supplied cables to connect to a HDTV at standard definition resolution).

With no internal memory, you will be relying completely on your SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards to store all of your images. With its high speed and Full HD video capture abilities, we recommend using the fastest cards that you can get your hands on, and at least a class 6 card. The camera is shown here with a SanDisk Extreme Pro UHS-1 (Class 10), 8GB SDHC memory card.

Powering the G15 is a 7.4V, 920mAh rechargeable Li-Ion battery. Canon claims that the battery will supply enough to capture approx. 350 images when using the LCD monitor and approx. 770 shots if you were to use the OVF only. Canon has also included the above quick charger, allowing you to keep your battery, and a spare charged and ready to go all the time.

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